The main purpose of this research project was to bridge the existing knowledge gap inthe empirical identification and understanding of how conflict occurs between keyproject parties within Saudi Arabia’s public sector building projects. Such conflict hasbecome an increasingly endemic feature within the last 20 years, and this researchproject provides a contribution in knowledge terms which will help to overcome theobstacles and challenges impeding growth and development in the field. This wasachieved by conducting an investigation to provide the theoretical background aboutthe antecedents of conflict, and presenting a number of project management suggestions to avoid or minimise.Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were utilised in this study. Thequalitative research data was obtained from 30 in-depth semi-structured interviewswith four types of key project party, namely, project owners, consultants, contractors,and sub-contractors. This was followed by two separate questionnaire surveys. The firstwas a means of validating conflict data obtained from the interviews, and the secondwas used to test Project Management - PM data, . In this part of the study, 672questionnaires were sent to various people engaged in the Saudi Arabian constructionindustry. The response rate was 46.1% (n = 310 ).In terms of the interview data, a total of 349 data items were derived and from these data items, 30 general themes emerged concerning various causes of conflict and the latent conditions of conflict, providing descriptions of what and how conflicts arise within Saudi Arabian public building projects. From these general themes, 31 recommendations for strategic project management processes are made, with the intention of preventing or at least minimising conflict. The quantitative survey conducted to test these project management strategies (recommendations) revealed that all of them were supported. The study subsequently produced a cyclical framework of conflict avoidance, derived from the research methodology used in the study, and this is outlined to enable project building participants, whether individuals, groups, or organisations, to improve their project management strategy from project to project.The research recommends that: generally, certain project management strategiesshould be implemented in the earlier phases of a project in order to promote conflictavoidance behaviours or at least to effect a reduction in these. Furthermore, strategicactions are required to deal with the latent condition-related issues in respect of building projects in the Saudi Arabian context. In this case, reforms to current practices are required to improve the performance within the building industry. It is also recommended that further research be undertaken to explore other latent conditions of conflict and conflicts themselves in order to develop additional project management strategies aimed at managing the causes of conflict.

Sammanfattning Titel: Hälso- och sjukvården och Covid-19 en kvalitativ studie om strategiförändringar under en kris Författare: Lucas Dahlstedt & Jacob Rundberg  Handledare: Cristoffer Lokatt  Examinator: Pia Nylinder Bakgrund: Senaste året har varit tufft för många, i början av 2020 spred sig covid-19 över världen vilket har haft stor påverkan på bland annat hälso- och sjukvården. Det strategiska arbetet har varit en central del i att hantera den kraftiga omställningen. Hälso- och sjukvården har varit tvungen att hantera denna omställning för att klara av att vårda de sjuka till följd av covid-19. Tidigare forskning kring strategi i offentliga sektorn under kristider har fokuserat på ekonomiska och politiska konsekvenser där forskning kring hälso- och sjukvårdens tillämpning av strategi i kristider har varit bristfällig. Tiden under covid-19 gav oss ett unikt tillfälle att studera hur det strategiska arbetet förändras i kristider för att hantera en ny verklighet. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka och få en förståelse för hur det strategiska arbetet har påverkats av pandemin och vilka konsekvenser pandemin har medfört till det strategiska arbetet. För att kunna analysera detta kommer teorier om strategi och strategi under kris att användas där vi kommer att kunna se likheter och skillnader. Metod: Studien har genomförts genom en kvalitativ forskningsansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har varit grunden för empiriinsamlingen. Vår empiri baseras på tre anställda från region Kronoberg vars arbetsuppgifter har legat kring strategiarbetet för hälso- och sjukvården under pandemin. Slutsats: Strategin i hälso- och sjukvården har genomgått förändringar för att hantera krisen. Studien visar att vid denna kris övergick hälso- och sjukvården från strategi som plan till en mer processorienterad strategi, där fokus på operativ nivå lades på snabbt informationsflöde för att gynna strategiska beslut. Detta gjorde så att man kunde effektivt fördela resurser och möta nya behov inom organisationen. Strategin under krisen fokuserade mer på att främja kärnvärdena i hälso- och sjukvården medans kostnadseffektivitet och framtida planer sköts framåt.  Nyckelord: Strategi, strategi i offentliga sektorn, covid-19, kris, strategistyrning, strategiförändring i kris. / Abstract Title: Public health care and Covid-19 a qualitative study about strategy changes during a crisis Authors: Lucas Dahlstedt & Jacob Rundberg Supervisor: Cristoffer Lokatt Examiner: Pia Nylinder  Background: Last year has been rough for many of us. In early 2020 the covid-19 virus spread across the world and had a big impact especially on public health care. The strategic work is a central part to handle the major change. Public health has been forced to handle this major change to be able to take care of people in need. Studies about strategy in the public sector in times of crises have mainly focused on economic and political consequences while studies about strategy and how it is applied in crises are limited in public health care. Time during covid-19 gave us a rare opportunity to study how strategic work has changed in times of crisis to deal with a new reality.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine and get an understanding of how the pandemic has influenced the strategic work and what consequences the pandemic has brought to the strategic work. To be able to analyze this, theories about strategy and strategy under turbulence will be used where we will be able to see similarities and differences. Method: The study has been conducted by a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews have been the basis for receiving the empirical data. Our empirical data is based on three employees whose tasks revolve around the strategic work for the public health care department during the crisis.  Conclusion: The strategy in public health care has undergone changes to deal with the crisis. The study shows that during a crisis, public health care crossed from a strategy as a plan to a strategy as a process where focus on an operational level was put on quick information flows to facilitate strategic decisions. This resulted in efficient resource distribution and to meet new demands within the organisation. The strategy during the crisis was directed to support the core values of the organisation while cost efficiency and future plans were pushed forward. Keywords: Strategy, strategy in the public sector, covid-19, crisis, Strategy management, Strategy changes in time of crisis.